well construction and water rights: beyond the · well construction and water rights: beyond...
TRANSCRIPT
Well Construction and Water Rights: Beyond
Minimum Well Construction Standards
Harney Basin Groundwater Study
Advisory Committee Meeting
April 20, 2017
Darrick Boschmann, RG
Hydrogeologist
Oregon Water Resources Department
Introduction
FIRST THINGS FIRST
• This presentation covers some of the potential well
construction requirements that are specific to authorized
wells on water rights.
• Meeting the requirements of a water right is the responsibility
of the water right holder.
• The information provided here is intended to provide
guidance for drilling professionals to help their clients
understand and satisfy the conditions of their water rights.
Presentation Overview
• Groundwater application reviews - brief overview
• Standard permit conditions
• Additional permit conditions
• Transfers, permit amendments, deepenings & replacement
wells
• Resources for water rights information
Groundwater Reviews
Public Interest Presumption:
The Department shall presume that a proposed ground water use will ensure the preservation of
the public welfare, safety and health (OAR 690-310-130)
Groundwater Reviews
To issue a groundwater right the Department must find:
• The proposed use is allowed by the basin plan
• Water is available
• The proposed use will not injure other water rights
• The proposed use meets other rules of the Commission
Groundwater Reviews
To issue a groundwater right the Department must find:
• The proposed use is allowed by the basin plan
• Water is available
• The proposed use will not injure other water rights
• The proposed use meets other rules of the Commission
• OAR 690-310-140 allows the proposed use to be modified or
conditioned to meet the presumption
• Standard Conditions:
• Well Locations
• Source Aquifer
• Well Construction
Standard Permit Conditions
Standard Permit Conditions
Well Locations
Standard Permit Conditions
Well Locations
• Application map:
Standard Permit Conditions
Well Locations
• Authorized legal descriptions from the application/permit:
Standard Permit Conditions
Well Locations
• Why this matters:
• Well locations are reviewed as proposed in the
application (unless otherwise conditioned)
• Interference with existing senior groundwater rights
• Interference with surface water rights
Standard Permit Conditions
Well Locations
• Why this matters:
• Interference with existing senior groundwater rights
• Interference with surface water rights
1
2
3
Existing Irrigation Well
Standard Permit Conditions
• Well Locations:
• Why this matters:
• Interference with
existing senior
groundwater rights
• Interference with
surface water
Standard Permit Conditions
Source and Construction
Standard Permit Conditions
Source and Construction
• Proposed well construction from application:
Standard Permit Conditions
Source and Construction
• Why this matters:
• Source and construction are reviewed as proposed in the
application (unless otherwise conditioned)
• Interference with existing senior groundwater rights
• Interference with surface water rights
• Water availability
Standard Permit Conditions
Source and Construction
• Why this matters:
1 2
3
Additional Permit Conditions
Several examples:
• Avoiding interference with senior groundwater and surface
water rights
• Defining aquifer stratigraphy
• Monitoring impacts in sensitive areas
• Many more…
Additional Permit Conditions
Well Construction Condition:
• Avoiding shallow groundwater/surface water interference.
Additional Permit Conditions
Cuttings Collection Condition:
• For characterizing aquifer stratigraphy.
Additional Permit Conditions
Observation Well Condition:
• For monitoring impacts of groundwater withdrawals in
sensitive areas.
Additional Permit Conditions
Some Notes on Observation Wells
Location approved by the department:
• Owner and driller work with department hydrogeologist to
determine the appropriate location prior to drilling
Case and seal same depth as production wells:
• Drill production wells first – then determine location and
construction of observation well
Transfers and permit amendments
To issue a groundwater transfer or permit amendment the
Department must find:
• The proposed change will use the same source aquifer as
the originally authorized well
• The change will not injure other water rights (groundwater or
surface water)
Transfers and permit amendments
• Same source
• Injury to existing groundwater and surface water
1 2
3
Well Deepenings
• Deepenings
• Same source?
1 2
Well Deepenings
• Deepenings
Well deepened
5/21/1993
“Replacement Wells”
• Same source?
• Closer to surface water?
• Meets all conditions of original permit/certificate?
• It is always best to file for a permit amendment or
transfer before drilling replacement wells.
Conclusions
• Meeting the requirements of a water right is the responsibility
of the water right holder.
• Drilling contractors are often the first point of contact when
landowners begin to develop their groundwater right.
• Encourage your clients to read and understand their water
right permit before they drill any wells.
Resources for water rights information
• Water Rights Information Query:
• http://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/wr/wrinfo/
• Water Rights Mapping Tool:
• http://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/gis/wr/Default.aspx
• Contact the local Watermaster:
• http://www.oregon.gov/owrd/pages/offices.aspx#Waterma
ster_Offices
Thank You
Questions?
Darrick E. Boschmann, RG | Hydrogeologist – Groundwater Section _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oregon Water Resources Department | Phone: 503-986-0853 725 Summer ST. NE., Suite A Salem OR 97301 | Fax: 503-986-0902
Thank You
Supplemental Slides
The use will not injure other water rights…
Division 09: Ground Water Interference With Surface Water 09-040: Determination of Hydraulic Connection and Potential for Substantial Interference
Supplemental Slides
Division 09-040: 1) Confinement and Hydraulic Connection
Supplemental Slides
Division 09-040: (4) If the gw resource is determined to be hydraulically connected to a sw source, the potential for substantial interference is assumed if: a) Less than ¼ mile from the surface water; or b) Rate greater than 5 cfs, less than 1 mi; or c) Rate greater than 1% of a senior instream right or the 80% determined or estimated stream discharge if less than 1 mile; or d) Greater than 25% stream depletion after 30 days of pumping if less than 1 mile
Supplemental Slides